I met with representatives of the World Wheel Company in Newcastle to discuss the new Whey Aye Wheel development set to be built on the Quayside next year. The £100 million investment is to include Europe’s largest wheel, a 39ft ‘Geordie Giant’, restaurants and family attractions including football pitches, tennis courts and a range of virtual experiences.

I believe that concerns of residents local to the site must be considered. In the meeting I put across the main concerns of constituents who have written to me on the issue. I have also written to Newcastle City Council formally passing on these concerns. The Council confirmed to me that a planning application has been received. They said that the application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement which considers the impacts of the proposal and looks at potential mitigation measures. The Council assure me that my constituents’ specific concerns will be taken into account before the application is determined.